Safe Betting Sites: How to Bet Online Safely and Legally

ByWes Burns Hours Published
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Identifying safe betting sites lays the groundwork for BettingUSA to conduct thorough and useful sportsbook reviews. An online sportsbook can offer excellent betting bonuses and the most generous lines in the world, but weak security standards render those points moot.

BettingUSA considers multiple factors when discussing safe betting sites, ranging from their encryption standards to whether they promote responsible gambling and how they treat customers. Security is a wide-ranging topic, so this page will begin with a list of the safest online betting sites and continue the discussion in detail below.

21+ to Play, T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

What Are The Safest Online Betting Sites?

BettingUSA considers the following online sportsbooks the safest betting sites because each takes a comprehensive approach to security. They are licensed, reputable, and use current best practices to protect customers’ funds and private information.

But first, a caveat. Not even the safest sports betting sites are invulnerable to security breaches and bad actors – the same as online banking and e-commerce. Of course, bad actors will always look for vulnerabilities, but the best online sportsbooks go to great lengths to prevent breaches or make customers whole if one does occur.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM Sportsbook$1500 Second Chance BetBetMGM Bonus Code: BUSABONUSGet BonusGambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (available in the US). Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800- 981-0023 (PR). First bet offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for terms. US $1500 promotional offer not available in New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
  • Licensed: Yes – multiple states
  • Established: 2018
  • Login Security: 2FA via passcode texted to registered phone number; optional e-mail login alerts
  • Cash-Out Security: If enabled, customer must answer their security questions to withdraw
  • VeriSign and TSL1.2 or above encryption
  • Verified by Visa and Mastercard SecureCode during payments
  • All cashier transactions meet Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards for data security
  • Privacy Policy
  • Withdrawal Policy

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings SportsbookNo Sweat Bet up to $1,000DraftKings Promo Code: Not NeededGet BonusGambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369)(NY). Call 1-800-522-4700 (NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV). Offer for new customers 21+ (18+ KY/NH/WY), present in AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, NJ, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY only. Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos.
  • Licensed: Yes – multiple states
  • Established: 2012
  • Login Security: 2FA via passcode texted to registered number, biometric login, optional e-mail login alerts
  • Industry-standard SSL encryption
  • Privacy Policy
  • Withdrawal Policy

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel SportsbookBet $5 Get $150FanDuel Promo Code: Not NeededGet BonusGambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. Gamblinghelplinema.org or call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or Text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA (permitted parishes only), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY.
  • Licensed: Yes – multiple states
  • Established: 2009
  • Login Security: 2FA passcode texted to user’s phone number or sent to an approved authenticator app on their phone; optional additional 2FA via passcode sent to user’s registered e-mail address; optional e-mail login alerts
  • Industry-standard SSL encryption
  • Partnered with HackerOne to reward anyone who finds a security vulnerability in FanDuel; fast response times to reported vulnerabilities
  • Privacy Policy
  • Withdrawal Policy

Bet365 Sportsbook

Bet365 SportsbookBet $5 Get $150Bet365 Bonus Code: Not RequiredGet BonusGambling problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IN/LA/NC/NJ/OH/VA) 21), (KY) 18+. New Customer Offer Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
  • Licensed: Yes – multiple states
  • Established: 2000 in the UK; first US license in 2019
  • Login Security: 2FA passcode texted to customer’s registered phone number or e-mail address; optional biometric ID login
  • 256-bit SSL encryption
  • Privacy Policy
  • Withdrawal Policy

Characteristics of Safe Betting Sites

Safe online sports betting is a two-sided coin.

On one side are sportsbooks’ obligations regarding customer security. On the other are the steps customers can take to enhance their own safety.

Of the two, sportsbook obligations come first. A positive experience begins with choosing a safe betting site. If an online betting site doesn’t have minimum security standards in place or treats bettors poorly, there’s nothing customers can do to overcome that.

Let’s discuss both sides of this coin, beginning with sportsbooks’ obligations to their customers.

How Safe Betting Sites Protect Their Customers

Under the obligations category are two sub-categories of security measures safe betting sites take to protect their customers.

Tier one is the first and most important: It covers the steps betting sites take to safeguard customers’ funds and personal information.

Tier two relates to how online sportsbooks treat their customers – how quickly they limit winners, whether they offer non-predatory bonuses, etc.

And last, a quick note: Brand-name sportsbooks are the most stable, secure, and reputable in terms of paying winners and following the law, but some tend to push the line with questionable actions like voiding bets on technicalities or limiting winners too quickly.

There seems to be a continuous tug-of-war between tier one and tier two safety considerations – rarely do you get both in one sportsbook. DraftKings is perhaps the best in this regard, but Bet365 is also very high in that list despite not being as known in the US market.

Tier One Considerations: Most Important Factors

Whether a sportsbook is legal and licensed in the USA is the most important factor determining whether a betting site is safe.

Bettors can neglect everything else on this page and still be mostly OK as long as they stick with licensed sportsbooks because state regulators filter out low-quality operators during the application process to avoid outright fraud/scam sportsbooks.

Some licensed betting sites treat customers poorly and seem to operate on questionable ethical standards, but regulators in most states are good about weeding out the worst actors. Additionally, the licensing process usually uncovers any financial issues or poor security standards a betting site may have.

A reputation can’t be faked, at least not convincingly, in the online sports betting space. All sportsbooks earn reputations over time, and “the people” know which betting sites are safe. Anyone new to online betting can see BettingUSA’s reviews written by experienced bettors for the rundown on nearly every legal betting site active in the USA.

Additionally, bettors can check discussion forums and social media for reviews from individual users. It’s true people like to complain, but bettors should be wary of sportsbooks with disproportionally bad reviews compared to all the rest.

Bankruptcy and lost customer funds are rare in the regulated US market, but solid financials reduce the risk even further and ensure betting sites have the funding to keep their security standards up to par.

Although it’s impossible to thoroughly investigate a sportsbook’s financials from the outside, established brands with a nationwide presence tend to have the funding they need to run a smooth operation.

Long-term operators like DraftKings and experienced land-based gaming operators like MGM Resorts’ BetMGM are likelier to be in better financial shape than single-state operators.

Newer and inexperienced operators are less likely to succeed long-term, even if they are associated with established brands in other industries. For example, Fubo Sportsbook (fuboTV) and MaximBet (Maxim Magazine) both closed operations after relatively short stints in the sports betting industry. Both sportsbooks paid customers in full before permanently shuttering, but their closures prove that financials matter.

Bettors can also keep their eyes open for obvious warning signs that something’s amiss. Signs that could indicate financial trouble include recent complaints online about delayed payments, expired promotions still showing on its website, or no response from customer support.

Legal betting sites handle a lot of personally identifiable information (PII) due to state and federal laws that require them to verify the identity of every new customer.

Identity verification isn’t optional, so licensed betting sites collect personal details from all new customers, including their names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and partial Social Security numbers.

Operators then run that information through public and private databases to confirm every new user is who they say they are. Additionally, online sportsbooks usually ask customers to upload pictures of their photo IDs for further confirmation before processing their first withdrawal.

As a result, information security is critical in online sports betting. Safe betting sites use current best practices to protect against hackers, limit employee access to sensitive customer information, and frequently audit their security protocols. Of course, all of that requires time and money, which further makes a case for bettors sticking with experienced and reputable betting sites.

Tier Two Considerations: How Sportsbooks Treat Their Customers

Tier two considerations deal with how betting sites treat their customers – how fast they limit winners, whether they offer non-predatory promotions, support responsible gambling, and so on. In short, safe betting sites treat their customers well.

Lower-quality sportsbooks can be legal and operate within the confines of the law but still not qualify as “safe” in the sense that bettors are assured of having a positive experience. These aren’t necessarily legal issues but are just common-sense, golden rule types of considerations.

As experienced bettors know, all sports betting promotions look good from the outside, but it’s the terms and conditions that matter. Additionally, how sportsbooks enforce their terms also counts.

For example, a sportsbook that promises a $1,000 bonus bet to a new customer but immediately limits their account to a $10 wagering limit essentially revokes the bonus after it’s too late.

Unfortunately, regulations in most states afford betting sites significant leeway in how they manage promotions because it’s “just” promotional money. Sportsbooks’ terms of use pages invariably state promotions “are offered at the discretion” of the operator and may be revoked at any time, for any reason. As always, buyer beware when it comes to online betting promotions.

Sports betting sites love losing bettors and tend to treat them like VIPs, but how they treat winners is what separates the good from the bad. More specifically, a betting site’s approach to wagering limits reveals what it’s like to bet there.

Wagering limits are an industrywide phenomenon because online sportsbooks aren’t in the business of losing money to sharps, and they usually resort to placing bet-size restrictions on customers who seem to win too much or consistently attack soft lines.

Some betting sites slap harsh wagering limits on bettors at the first sign of intelligent wagering. Others are content to let bettors win and only apply wagering limits incrementally. This point isn’t so much a matter of safety as it is customer satisfaction, but it’s always worth having an idea of how a betting site is likely to treat you should you go on a winning streak.

Responsible gambling is an underrated but critical aspect of safe online betting. Online sportsbooks that neglect their responsible gambling duties jeopardize their customers’ mental, financial, and physical well-being.

Safe sports betting sites prioritize responsible gambling over revenue by providing straightforward self-exclusion tools, customizable wagering/deposit/time limits, and actively reaching out to customers who display early warning signs to make sure everything is OK.

Responsible gambling isn’t an exciting topic, especially for new customers ready to bet online, but it’s worth considering when choosing a new betting site. Even something as simple as setting a time spent logged in limit can significantly affect someone’s quality of life over the long term.

How Bettors Can Enhance Security

Although state law requires licensed online sportsbooks to take every reasonable measure to protect their customers, some aspects of security are the end user’s responsibility.

Not even the safest betting sites can fully protect customers who respond to phishing e-mails and reuse passwords. Here’s what bettors can do to protect themselves when betting online:

Use a long and complex password, even if it’s just an unusual run-on sentence you can remember more easily.

Don’t use the same password you use anywhere else, especially not the one you use for your e-mail account. If you use the same password for both, someone who gains access to your e-mail account can easily browse your inbox to find out which betting sites you use and log in with the same password without you ever receiving a notification of a login attempt or password change.

Most online betting sites offer complementary two-factor authentication (2FA), and bettors should use it. In fact, 2FA isn’t even optional in some states. For example, regulations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania require operators to implement 2FA for all customer accounts.

When 2FA is enabled, and someone tries to log in, the sportsbook requires the user to pass a second confirmation test before processing the login attempt.

Standard 2FA methods include biometric ID features like Apple’s Touch ID, a passcode sent to the customer’s registered phone number, or the answer to a security question.

Of those, the biometric ID and passcode are the most secure because bad actors can often research their targets online to find the answers to common security questions.

In short, 2FA makes it significantly more difficult for a bad actor to access someone’s account, even if they have that person’s password.

Licensed betting sites don’t ask customers for their passwords, phone numbers, addresses, or other personal information via e-mail.

Ignore e-mails that appear to be from operators threatening to close your account or confiscate your funds if you don’t reply with your password – they’re fake.

It’s easy to spoof e-mail addresses to make such requests look legitimate, so bettors should always ignore messages asking for private information. If they have questions, bettors should visit the sportsbook’s website by opening their browser, manually typing in its website address, and contacting customer support directly.

It’s important to register with an e-mail address you frequently use so you can receive alerts whenever someone logs in to your account or attempts to reset your password.

If you receive a login alert, don’t follow any links in that e-mail. Instead, visit your sportsbook website manually to contact customer support directly.

Customer Reviews of Safe Sports Betting Sites

Customer reviews posted to discussion forums and social media are excellent sources for unbiased discussions of specific sportsbooks and information about which sports betting sites are safe. Usually (but not always), individual customer reviews posted online are simple, straightforward, and not overly salesy.

However, individual customer complaints can be biased or lack critical details. For example, it’s not uncommon for someone to start a thread in a sports betting discussion forum accusing a sportsbook of stealing their money, only for the other members to immediately recognize the original poster’s story doesn’t add up and side with the sportsbook.

In addition, misunderstandings can lead to intensely negative reviews that don’t accurately reflect the sportsbook’s relative quality. See the anecdote below for an example of how misunderstandings can slant the discussion against a sportsbook that hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary.

That said, customer reviews are informative in aggregate. Sports betting sites develop safety reputations over time. So if a particular sportsbook is the frequent subject of complaints about unpaid winnings, hacked user accounts, and other issues, there’s probably something to those allegations. As the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s (usually) fire.

A standard industry practice on season totals wagers is to include a provision that says something to the effect of “team must play at least 12 games for action.” In other words, the sportsbook will void the bet and return the original wager without any winnings if the team doesn’t play at least 12 games.

If a bettor places a wager on a team winning more than 9.5 games, the team wins ten straight games, but then the season’s last two games are canceled for weather, the sportsbook will still void the wager even though there’s no way the bet could have lost at that point.

Note: Some online sportsbooks occasionally and voluntarily pay wagers in response to extenuating circumstances out of goodwill, but bettors shouldn’t count on exceptions. Usually, safe betting sites apply the rules uniformly.

Naturally, many bettors would be incensed as it would seem the sportsbook took advantage of a technicality to avoid paying winners that would have won regardless of the last two games’ outcomes. That person might leave a highly critical review of the sportsbook and warn other bettors to stay far away.

The hypothetical bettor in this example would be understandably upset, but there’s a reason sportsbooks void both sides of totals in these situations. It’s not to rip off their customers but to prevent outcomes where the sportsbook gets stuck voiding all the unders and paying all the overs. And if sportsbooks didn’t try to avoid such outcomes, they would have to compensate by raising the juice even higher.

The only way for the sportsbook to preempt such outcomes fairly and consistently is to attach the no-action clause to all totals and apply the rule to both sides of every wager, every time.

On the other hand, the rule cuts both ways and can save bettors who would have lost had the season continued.

It’s not ideal, but it’s the standard operating procedure in sports betting, so one negative review from a customer upset about this rule doesn’t necessarily reflect that sportsbook’s quality relative to other betting sites.

However, it’s never a bad idea to check every online sportsbook’s terms and conditions before betting there. Some sportsbooks try to get away with more than they ethically should by using unfair terms to justify dishonest behavior.

Safest Sports Betting Deposit Methods

Deposits and withdrawals represent potential weak points in security because they transmit valuable information between customers, sportsbooks, and third-party payment providers.

The safest betting deposit methods involve cash and prepaid cards because they create separation between bettors’ sportsbook accounts and bank accounts:

  • PayNearMe: Bettors can deposit physical cash at most sportsbooks by selecting PayNearMe to generate a payment slip, visiting the nearest PayNearMe outlet, and completing the deposit with cash – no banking information required.
  • Prepaid Gift Cards: Bettors can buy prepaid gift cards in person from a local retailer with cash or credit and then redeem the card online without ever sharing their banking details.
  • Game On Gift Cards: Game On Gift Cards are like prepaid gift cards except specifically designed for the legal US sports betting industry. With prepaid gift cards, it’s sometimes hard to tell if a particular brand supports deposits to online sportsbooks. In contrast, Game On Gift cards work every time.

Moving one level down in security are established deposit methods that facilitate instant online transfers. The following methods lack the separation advantage of the deposit options described above but are much more convenient and nearly as secure:

  • Credit and Debit Cards: Credit and debit cards offer multiple security benefits: the major credit card brands are highly experienced, well-funded, and successfully process billions of transactions annually. In addition, federal law requires credit card issuers to reimburse all fraud losses greater than $50.
  • PayPal: PayPal offers many of the same benefits as credit and debit cards – it’s reputable, experienced, and provides excellent care for customers who experience fraud.

Most payment providers also contribute to the effort by providing additional security tools. For example, Visa Secure and Mastercard Identity Check provide an extra layer of security during payments by confirming customers’ identities before processing deposits to online sportsbooks.

The safest betting sites also provide withdrawal security measures to protect against unauthorized withdrawals. For example, BetMGM’s optional cash-out feature asks users to answer their security questions before withdrawing.

Safe Online Betting FAQ

Brand-name sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Bet365, and Caesars are legitimate betting sites backed by experienced and well-financed operators. Smaller operators are also legit if they hold licenses in every state where they offer online sports betting.

Bettors can see a list of legit betting sites on BettingUSA’s state pages for help finding a safe place to bet online. BettingUSA recommends licensed online sportsbooks exclusively.

State regulators advise bettors who feel they’ve been ripped off to try resolving the issue directly with their sportsbook and document all conversations with that operator’s customer support team. If that doesn’t help, bettors can file a dispute online with their state’s gaming regulator.

No. Offshore sportsbooks operate outside US jurisdiction, which means they aren’t subject to the same consumer protection rules as licensed operators and have no recourse if they get ripped off. In addition, it may be illegal to use unlicensed sportsbooks in some states.

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